The KSHSAA does not require any school to take part in any of the activities they oversee; that is 100% a local decision.

There are rules in place (yes Will, I see you rolling your eyes) as to how a sport/activity becomes sanctioned by the KSHSAA; it ALWAYS starts with a request from a member school or a group of member schools.

Bowling is the poor man's golf; should the KSHSAA also drop golf? Bawdry behavior is also often associated with the leisure play of that game/sport.

Greg Mann
Norton, KS

Bowling is NOT poor man's golf, golf is a sport, bowling is a GAME! If 51% of the members did not vote to add bowling then it should not be added. It seems the process to add a sport might be easier than the process to implement MUCH NEEDED changes.

While on the topic of becoming fiscally responsible, I believe that was the intent of this thread... It is completely crazy for KSHSAA to spend $10,000 in arena rent alone for the 4A state tournament when it could of been and should have been in Wichita. I talked to Gary Musselman, yes folks the the KSHSAA czar himself, and he said the coaches don't want it. My response, "Who cares what the coaches want! The parents want them in one building and the coaches get paid by the parents, Gary!" In fact, I would love to see a roll call vote of the 4A coaches who say they don't want it in the same building. It is as silent as a golf tournament during the finals. I hate it! We need bigger, rowdier crowds! We need fireworks and promotion! It has to be an EVENT not just a simple little tournament on Friday and Saturday. We need a tunnel and smoke so the kids can make a grand entrance at each weight. We need a raised platform and the award parade needs to be in the middle of the platform. Gary needs to send Rick to Fargo to see it is REALLY done up right! Heck these doofuses don't even know how to do an intro. When they line up from 103 to 285 you line up opposite on the other side of the mat so you criss cross to meet in the middle! Half the people cannot see the awards parade and the crowd is SOOOO far away from the mat. Are they really worried that me or some other crazy dad would run out on the mat!? Money is going to get tight for our sport. It is time for us to join together and meet in Topeka to make sure they don't kill wrestling by overspending and not making the big bucks they could. They could seel ring side seats for $25 or $50 a head and make a killing! The atmosphere needs to be just like a big time boxing or MMA match not some chess match! Another thing, start in the middle not at 103! Quit disrespecting the big guys. The Clay Center crowd was so classless last night. First I thank them for having the biggest contingent and making it somewhat exciting but secondly it is rude to get up in the middle of an event and walk out in mass. I bet a 150 fans left when their last guy wreslted and it was then impossible for them to win state as a team. All season long we attended tournaments that started in the middle and the crowds stayed for the last match. I know this is probably the last day that anyone is going to read on this forum and all that is wrong will be forgotten until next season. Lets not let that happen!

Well said. I agree with all (especially started at like 160, so people stay and watch the big ones). Nice meeting you last night.

Musselman.

Can we flood his email or snailmail with some of your suggestions? If so, please provide an address and I'll put in my two cents worth (in a kind and respectful way - you catch more flies with honey than you do vinegar).

Thanks.

Well, I certainly agree that bowling is not much of a sport, but it is probably as much of a sport or more than (forgive me Ricky Bobby)car racing or horse racing. Well, horse racing could be a sport for the horse but certainly not for people. I guess that car racing could be a sport for the car, that is if it is possible for an inanimate object to be engaged in a sport. I agree though about bowling being a game as it is kind of like shuffle-board or something like that. What about archery? If that is a sport than shouldn't darts be. They have archery in the Olympics and shooting. Does that make it a sport? What about curling in the Olympics? If curling is a sport, than bowling would be. But again, I would liken both more to a game. As for golf, I guess it is a sport although not much of one. It certainly is not too rigorous. I agree that it takes ability but it is more about practice I am sure. Kind of like darts or even video games.

Per-pupil expenditures in 1983 were 56 percent less than they are today, but student performance has improved only slightly

Lessons for Congress about Education Spending
Posted February 10th, 2009 at 4.07pm in Education.

As Congress considered the unprecedented federal spending increase on education programs, Members should take the time to check out the American Legislative Exchange Council’s new Report Card on American Education. The report examines the condition of public schooling in the states and offers policymakers lessons from the experience of our laboratories of democracy. One key finding: simply spending more on education doesn’t guarantee better student outcomes.

Former Education Secretary Bill Bennett summarized this point in a foreword to the report:

The fact is that more dollars do not necessarily guarantee better schools. Some schools spend more and get lackluster results, while other schools with fewer funds and tools give children quality educations. In our country’s case, results are in the basement, while spending is through the roof. With education spending as the veritable black hole of state budgets, legislators should take heed. Per-pupil expenditures in 1983 were 56 percent less than they are today, but student performance has improved only slightly. Even those states placing in the top 10 of the ALEC Report Card – including number one – should pause before jumping for too much joy. Too many of their students are still below national proficiency levels in fourth- and eighth grade math and reading. High school results are just as grim.

We reached a similar conclusion in our 2008 paper: Does Spending More on Education Improve Academic Achievement?

Parents, taxpayers, and everyone concerned about the condition of our nation’s public schools should recognize the urgent need for serious reforms to get more out of the considerable dollars our nation spends on public education. If history is any guide, simply spending more alone isn’t the answer.

A little math here.

1983 to 2008=25 years

25 years of 3% inflation, don't forget to compound,= about 110%

So, if inflation was 110%, and expenditures went up only 53%, it seems to me we are getting a bargin.

Plus, many many schools and districts are larger than they were in 1983. Larger means more students.